CAIR-OH Condemns Officer's Racist, Anti-Semitic Video Remarks

(COLUMBUS, OH, 8/29/07) -

The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) today condemned racist and anti-Semitic comments made by Columbus Police Officer Susan L. Purtee in two Internet video clips.

In one of the nearly nine-minute video clips, Purtee expresses her admiration for Senator Joseph McCarthy as "the greatest man in U.S. history." She also states that "as long as you're a Jew you have that feeling that everyone is beneath you."

The second offensive video clip focused on African-Americans and what Purtee and her sister call the "Ebonics Plague." They commented that educated, influential African-Americans are disliked by other African-Americans because they "use syllables to speak."

SEE: Columbus Cop Rails Against Minorities in Internet Videos

"We respect the constitutional right to free speech, but we also recognize that police officers must be held to a higher standard of conduct than ordinary citizens," said CAIR-Ohio President Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin. "Bigoted rhetoric of this kind may tarnish the reputation of the entire police force and should not be tolerated by city officials."

Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman has expressed his personal disapproval for Officer Purtee's conduct and has asked the Department of Public Safety to review whether it constitutes conduct unbecoming an officer. The Department of Public Safety has committed to begin an immediate investigation with the Division of Police and a consultation with the City Attorney.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil liberties, and empower American Muslims.

CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Legal Director Jennifer Nimer, 614-451-3232; jnimer@cair.com; Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, 614-451-3232, asma@cair-ohio.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

-----

CAIR
Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Tel: 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726
Fax: 202-488-0833
E-mail: info@cair.com
URL: http://www.cair.com

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.